Now that the travel scene is beginning to normalize, 63% of travel managers say they’re excited about hosting regular offsite company events and retreats. This is likely because of the range of benefits team away days (also known as ‘collaboration travel’) bring to a business. To name a few, collaboration travel encourages… 

• Team relationship building – According to Skift, two-thirds of corporate travelers think it’s challenging to build professional connections virtually, showing the importance of in-person meetings for teamwork and colleague collaboration. 
• Employee retention and engagement – People want to travel for work. In fact, almost 4 out of 5 business travelers in North America and 83% in Europe believe business travel experiences impact their overall job satisfaction. This figure is even higher in both regions for Millennial employees. 
• Ideas generation – 34% of employees state they have their most creative ideas on executive retreats. This rises to 53% among those aged 16-24.
• Attracting new talent – Company travel policies have the potential to influence decisions during the recruitment process. Nearly 3 in 5 North Americans think business travel opportunities are an important factor to consider when choosing a new employer. 

It’s no wonder we’re beginning to see corporate team travel trending when business travel seems such an essential part of company success. So, how can you maximize your company’s potential using collaboration travel? 

3 steps for mastering collaboration travel housing 

Choosing the right housing for your business travel needs can be the key differentiator between stressed employees and great travel experiences. Here are three tips for getting it right every time… 

Prioritize quality when booking accommodation

Business travel in itself is exhausting. Add to this long days interacting with others, listening to talks, and being creative at corporate events and it’s important that companies give employees a comfortable ‘home base’ where they can fully rest and recuperate in the evenings. 

Offering quality housing is also beneficial for the company, as fully rested employees are more likely to perform at their best. Travel managers can book quality housing easily through online booking tools, which offer a range of pre-vetted property options. 

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Choose housing close to the venue 

Booking corporate housing close to where the retreat or event is taking place can save your employees and your business a lot of time and money. Nearby accommodation for your team also reduces travel stress as it minimizes time spent navigating a new city. 

Corporate travel marketplaces, such as 3Sixty, make finding accommodation close to your venue simple. Interactive maps show where available housing options are located, as well as prices, so you can see at a glance which options are most suitable for your needs. 

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Look for spaces with extra facilities 

As collaboration is one of the most important factors of corporate away days, companies should make it easy for employees to break off into small groups so they can bounce around ideas, catch up, and work together. You can encourage this by providing multiple spaces for employees to meet; book extra rooms at the corporate venue or choose housing with co-working facilities. Doing so also enables those with important calls or deadlines to break away from the group temporarily to get work done. 

Travel managers can use online booking tool filters to specify whether they’re looking for spaces with co-working facilities, or any other amenities they require. 

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While virtual meetings have served us well during times of restricted travel, now is the time for companies to make the most of in-person corporate trips. Not only can businesses benefit from creative idea generation and employee relationship building, but corporate travel has been shown to improve employee engagement and retention, as well as attract new talent. 

This means that collaborative travel has the potential to help your business thrive in more ways than one. To be truly successful and get the most out of corporate trips, ensure employees are housed in comfortable accommodation that is close to the venue and equipped with co-working facilities. 

Ready to give your business a boost? Start booking your next corporate trip today using our online booking tool for quality, pre-vetted housing options. 

3Sixty

3Sixty is the business travel industry’s most secure and intuitive accommodation platform that offers over one million global quality accommodations.